Dominic Thiem

[Damian]

AO20: 6. wielkoszlemowy ćwierćfinał.

[5] Dominic Thiem d. [10] Gael Monfils 6-2 6-4 6-4

[arti]

[arti]

[Damian]

Thiem Stuns Nadal To Reach First Semi-final In Melbourne

Spoiler:

Austrian to face Zverev in semi-finals

Dominic Thiem made a significant breakthrough at the Australian Open on Wednesday night, upsetting World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6) at Rod Laver Arena.

The Austrian recorded his first Grand Slam victory against the 2009 champion in six attempts to reach his first semi-final at the opening major championship of the year. Thiem won 78 per cent of first-serve points (65/83) and struck 65 winners to earn his maiden hard-court win against Nadal after four hours and 10 minutes.

”All the match was on a very good level. We were both in good form,” Thiem told former World No. 1 Jim Courier in an on-court interview. “We already had this epic match [at the US Open] in New York two years ago and today I had a feeling I was lucky in the right situations. The net cord was on my side. He is one of the greatest of all time, so you do sometimes need luck to beat him.”

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The Austrian, who has fallen to Nadal in the past two Roland Garros finals, has now claimed one victory against the Spaniard in each ATP Tour season since 2016. Thiem's previous four wins against Nadal all came on clay. Since the start of the 2019 ATP Tour season, Thiem has won seven of his 10 matches against the Big 3 of Nadal (2-2), Novak Djokovic (2-1) and Roger Federer (3-0).

Thiem will face Alexander Zverev for a place in the final. The 26-year-old leads Zverev 6-2 in their ATP Head2Head series, which includes a semi-final triumph in their most recent encounter at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals.

“It will be the first Grand Slam semi-final where I’m the older player,” said Thiem. “We’re great friends and I’m really happy that he’s in his first semi-final. We know how to play each other in a Grand Slam. The atmosphere will be so nice. It’s such a nice stadium and I’m looking forward to Friday.”

You May Also Like: Zverev Reaches Maiden Slam Semi-final In Melbourne
With both players attempting to take control of the centre of the court in baseline battles, it was Nadal who made the first breakthrough at 4-3. The Spaniard broke to love with a pinpoint backhand lob to serve for the first set. But Thiem was undeterred by his unsuccessful net approach, moving forward on multiple occasions in the following game to save set point and break with a forehand return winner.

In the tie-break, Nadal attempted to dictate rallies with his forehand before moving to the net to finish points. But Thiem had all the answers, rallying from 0/2 down with two forehand passing shots to earn three set points. The Austrian converted his first opportunity, ripping a forehand winner up the line to take the opener after 67 minutes.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafa ... ew'>Rafael Nadal</a> owns 19 Grand Slam titles.

In the second set, Nadal hit his targets with two passing shots and benefitted from Thiem double faults to earn his second love service break for a 3-2 lead. Three games later, a similar sequence occurred. On this occasion, it was Thiem who found a way past Nadal at the net and clinched the break for 4-4 after a double fault from his opponent.

Nadal increased his forehand aggression to save set point at 5-6 and took the match to a second tie-break with a cross court backhand winner. But Thiem continued to find success, striking a dipping forehand passing shot and moving up the court to establish a 4/0 advantage. Despite Nadal charging back to 4/4, Thiem claimed three straight points with his forehand to move one set from victory.

“I was a break down in first two sets and, in the first set, I was fortunate to get the break back at 4-5 when he was serving for the set,” said Thiem. “In the second set, the break happened a little bit earlier. I played well in the two tie-breaks.”

With neither player able to manufacture a break point in the opening nine games of the third set, Nadal secured a break at the perfect time to force a fourth set at 5-4. The Spaniard charged up the court to force Thiem into baseline errors in the opening two points and claimed the set as Thiem fired a backhand into the net.

Go Inside The Match With Infosys MatchBeats

Nadal, Thiem

After saving three break points with powerful serving at 0-1, Thiem earned his third break of the match in the following game by attacking Nadal’s forehand to take a 2-1 lead. The 26-year-old maintained that advantage to serve for the match at 5-4, but handed Nadal a route back into the match with a double fault and three forehand errors.

Thiem dragged Nadal out wide with cross court forehands in the early stages of the tie-break and continued to attack his opponent’s backhand en route to a 6/4 advantage. The World No. 5 failed to convert two match points, committing a forehand error on his first opportunity. Thiem earned a third match point with a cross court backhand passing shot that clipped the tape and claimed victory as Nadal struck a forehand approach into the net.

“I just wanted to stay in the match [in the fourth set] and I got the break, then got to 5-4 and served for the match and a place in my first semi-final at the Australian Open," said Thiem. "It was so mentally tough and I could not handle it, but I managed to turn it around again. There were a few demons in the head. I was rushing too much and changing my tactics. I am very happy I won the tie-break.”

Thiem becomes only the second Austrian player to reach the last four in Melbourne, following in the footsteps of two-time semi-finalist Thomas Muster. By reaching his fifth Grand Slam semi-final, the World No. 5 moves clear of Muster to take the top spot in the all-time leader board for Grand Slam semi-final appearances by an Austrian player.

Nadal was aiming to reach his seventh Australian Open semi-final and move two wins away from Federer’s all-time record of 20 Grand Slam titles. The 19-time Grand Slam champion beat Hugo Dellien, Federico Delbonis, Pablo Carreno Busta and Nick Kyrgios to reach the last eight in Melbourne.

As a result of Nadal’s quarter-final exit, Novak Djokovic can regain No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings by lifting a record-extending eighth trophy in Melbourne on Sunday.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-t ... 020-day-10

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Austriak zanotował dzisiaj kolejne bardzo wartościowe zwycięstwo z przedstawicielem BIG 3/BIG 4:

Największa ilość zwycięstw nad BIG 3:

29 Murray (11, 7, 11)
17 Del Potro (7, 6, 4)
16 Tsonga (6, 4, 6)
14 Hewitt (9, 4, 1)
14 Thiem (5, 5, 4)
13 Berdych (6, 4, 3)
12 Wawrinka (3, 3, 6)


Największa ilość zwycięstw nad BIG 4:

20 Del Potro (7+6+4+3)
20 Wawrinka (3+3+6+8)
19 Berdych (6+4+3+6)
18 Tsonga (6+4+6+2)
16 Thiem (5+5+4+2)
14 Davydenko (2+6+2+4)
14 Roddick (3+3+5+3)
13 Nalbandian (8+2+1+2)

[DUN I LOVE]

Będzie numerem 1 w tej drugiej statystyce.

[arti]

[arti]

[arti]

[Barty]

Australian Open 2020: 5. półfinał wielkoszlemowy.


Fox Sports Asia

[5] Dominic Thiem d. [1] Rafael Nadal 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(6)

[Damian]

Thiem: ‘It Was Just An Unbelievable Match'

Spoiler:

Austrian through to first semi-final in Melbourne

Dominic Thiem entered his Australian Open clash against Rafael Nadal with a 0-5 record in Grand Slam matches against the Spaniard, but the World No. 5 produced his best tennis in pressure moments to secure victory and advance to his first semi-final at Melbourne Park.

“It's amazing to beat the current World No. 1, Rafa, such a legend… It's a very special victory for me,” said Thiem after his 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6) win.

The Austrian rallied from a break down in the first two sets and won three tie-breaks against the 2009 champion to book a semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev. It was Thiem’s seventh victory from 10 matches against the Big 3 of Nadal (2-2), Novak Djokovic (2-1) and Roger Federer (3-0) since the start of the 2019 ATP Tour season.

“It was just an unbelievable match, like an epic one, four hours and 10 minutes. I think on a very high level from both of us. That's what I'm most happy about. Also, of course, that I'm for the first time in the semis of Australian Open,” said Thiem.

You May Also Like: Thiem Stuns Nadal To Reach First Semi-final In Melbourne
The defensive skill of Thiem throughout the four-hour, 10-minute contest impressed many fans inside Rod Laver Arena. The 26-year-old charged across the baseline and found a way to return one extra ball, placing Nadal in difficult positions as he often attempted to close the net.

But Thiem was clear that while his defensive game was a key component in his quarter-final victory, it was not the only factor in his success. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up needed his whole game to work at full capacity to overcome the 19-time Grand Slam champion for a fifth time in 14 ATP Head2Head matches.

“If you want to have a chance against him, one of the all-time greats, everything needs to work in your game,” said Thiem. “Also, of course, the defensive game. In some key moments, like 6/6 in the tie-break in the fourth set, my defensive game really worked. There was a great passing shot. It needs to be there to beat players like him.

“I think I improved my defensive game. Offensive game was always one of my strongest parts. Defensive game always so-so. It's super important for me, if I'm not in control of a point, to sometimes turn it around.”

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After taking the opening two sets, Thiem began to lose control of the match as Nadal snatched a late break in the third set and earned three break points in the fourth set.

After wrestling back control to serve for the match at 5-4, the 16-time ATP Tour titlist committed four errors in a nervous game to drop serve and allow his opponent back into the match. But Thiem regrouped well and, despite giving Nadal a second chance, still managed to find a way across the line in the tie-break.

“I'm really proud of how I stayed in the match after a very tough situation when I served for it at 5-4 in the fourth set. I really threw away that game with pretty stupid mistakes,” said Thiem.

“He played a [good] game for 6-5. I really stayed in the match, got together everything again in the tie-break. That's what I'm proud of, that I overcame this small or short, weak part of my game.

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Despite Thiem’s breakthrough moment in Melbourne, the Austrian is well aware that two members of the Big 3, Djokovic and Federer, are still in contention for the title at Melbourne Park.

Thiem, and semi-final opponent Zverev, are aiming to end the Big 3’s streak of 12 consecutive Grand Slam trophies since the start of the 2017 ATP Tour season. The last man outside the Big 3 to win a Grand Slam trophy was three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka, who defeated Djokovic in the 2016 US Open championship match.

“To really break a barrier, one young player has to win a Slam,” said Thiem. “One of us is going to be in the final, but it's still a very long way to go. I mean, the other semi-final is still two of the Big 3. I think we are still a pretty long way from overtaking or from breaking this kind of barrier.”

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[Lucas]

This Is Why Thiem Can Go 4 Hours With Rafa... And Win!

Spoiler:

Dominic Thiem is one of the most physical players on the ATP Tour. His groundstrokes are not only powerful, but bruising, with heavy topspin keeping opponents back deep behind the baseline. The Austrian’s game is punishing, as he is happy to maintain that level of physicality for as many hours as it takes to grind his opponents down.

On Wednesday night in Melbourne, Thiem survived an exhausting four hour, 10 minute marathon against one of the game's most physical players, Rafael Nadal, to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

How does Thiem do it? It all starts in the pre-season for the World No. 5, and Thiem brought the ATP Tour behind the scenes in Miami last December for a look into the work he puts into his conditioning.

“Now is the time to really get the body ready because there won’t be any time off where I can practise like this, so I try to use it as well as possible and try to get the body ready for everything that is ahead [in 2020],” Thiem said.

One of Thiem’s coaches, Nicolas Massu, would put his charge through one tough session per day on the court. But Thiem also grit his teeth through two off-court conditioning sessions per day. For example, he’d have a beach workout, tennis practice, and then a track workout at the end of the day.

“Self motivation is a very important thing. I have it in me, which is very nice. But of course there are also days when my team has to push me,” Thiem said. “Hard work is the only way to repeat my good success from last year and hopefully even improve it. Of course it helps a little bit for the start of 2020, but there is still room for improvement in 2020 and that’s what I’m working for.”

Massu, who began working with Thiem in 2019, said that while they were in Miami, it was less about ironing out specific tennis details in terms of technique, but his physicality on the court, to make sure he is prepared for the new season.

“It’s amazing how he practises. All the time, 100 per cent, he’s very focussed all the time,” Massu said. “He tries to improve every day, so for me as a coach it’s amazing because he’s a guy who wants to win all the time.”

Thiem also had plenty of support with him throughout his training block, with two fitness coaches — Dr. Michael Reinprecht and Duglas Cordero — as well as physio Alex Stober by his side. They constantly monitored Thiem’s heart rate to see how long it took him to recover from certain drills, and used a laser beam to measure the exact speed of some sprints.

“Dominic is an amazing player. He is working very, very hard. It is amazing the high intensity he puts in for every exercise,” Cordero said. “The preseason is very important because if you get a good preseason, it’s possible to, [when you] combine it with good tennis, [to] keep the performance all year.”

The team ran Thiem through what they called “gladiator training” to simulate short bursts of intensity — like what occurs during points — and staying active between those bursts. At one point, the reigning BNP Paribas Open champion ran 15 consecutive sprints to learn the maximum speed he could reach over a small distance, and according to Dr. Reinprecht, his 15th sprint was just as quick as his first.

“Of course I’m tired almost every day, but it’s okay,” Thiem said. “I’m tired all year long.”

Thiem tires himself during the offseason so he’s ready to suffer during matches. And that is what has led him to his success.

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[Michael Scott]

Nowy mistrz światowego tenisa? Regularnie ogrywa Djokovicia, Nadala i Federera

http://www.sport.pl/tenis/7,64987,25648 ... xSportImg3

[Damian]

Thiem Fights Back To Reach Australian Open Final

Spoiler:

Austrian to meet seven-time champion Djokovic on Sunday

Dominic Thiem booked his place in his third Grand Slam championship final on Friday with a hard-fought win at the Australian Open.

The fourth seed battled back from losing the first set, and saved two set points in the third set of a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(4) victory over first-time major semi-finalist, Alexander Zverev, the seventh seed from Germany, in three hours and 42 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

“It was an unreal match, two tie-breaks, so tough and so close,” Thiem told former World No. 1 John McEnroe in an on-court interview. “It was almost impossible to break him, with [him getting in] such a high percentage of first serves. An Australian Open final is unreal, and what a start to the season so far.”

Thiem is the first Austrian to reach the Australian Open final, where he will look to beat second seed and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic and rise above Roger Federer to a career-high No. 3 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. The 26-year-old has previously finished as runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019.

“I have been twice in the Roland Garros final, twice facing Rafa, and now I am facing Djokovic, he is the ‘King of Australia’, winning seven titles here," said Thiem. "I will try my best and do everything I can to win. But if I walk off the court in two days’ time a loser, I will be patient and trust the process and continue to work hard.”

Thiem won 23 of his 27 points at the net, and hit 43 winners, including 10 aces. Zverev, who hit 103 of his 127 first serves into court, converted five of his 14 break point chances and committed 33 unforced errors.

Zverev

Zverev elected to receive and the decision reaped dividends with a service break, but Thiem got back immediately. Light rain began to fall in the fourth game and briefly suspended play and it was until 3-3, that Zverev put his foot on the accelerator, winning 10 straight points to a 5-3 lead and 0/30 on Thiem’s serve. Zverev clinched the 40-minute opener when Thiem hit a backhand into the net.

“I played four hours and 10 minutes against Rafa [Nadal], who is the most intense guy on Tour," said Thiem. "Almost every rally was so intense and long. I was in bed around 5 a.m. two days ago, so it was not easily to recover, then once the adrenaline came today, and by the time I walked into the full stadium I was fine. I had some trouble in the first set, we were both nervous I think and there were two breaks each. It was a tough start for me."

Zverev extended his run of four straight games by winning the first game of the second set, but service woes arose in the third game as Thiem gained the break. Zverev showcased his athleticism with a terrific pick-up close to the net at 3-2, with Thiem serving at 15/40, finishing with a smash to level the score. However, luck was on Thiem’s side in the next game, when a backhand return hit the net cord and dropped dead to set up two break points. Thiem, sensing his chance, rushed to the net at 15/40 for a volley that Zverev could not recover. Serving for the second set at 5-4, Thiem came under pressure, but saved two break points and clinched the 40-minute set with an ace — his third of the pair’s ninth meeting.

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“In a Grand Slam semi-final, the level of both guys is so high and there were many key moments in the match," said Thiem. "I had to save three or four break points in the second set… I threw almost everything in at 3-1 [in the third set], even diving for a volley, which I don’t normally do on a hard-court, because it’s pretty painful, then he broke back straight away. I saved two set points, then was in a tie-break. It was nice to be two sets to one up, than down."

There was little respite for Zverev, who attempted to fight back from 0/40 at 1-1, but was left stranded at the net on the third break point when Thiem ripped a backhand crosscourt winner. Thiem saved a break point in the next game, then came close to a 4-1 advantage, but Zverev scrambled up a backhand winner off a dive volley from Thiem at 30/40. At 2-3, a clever return by Zverev caught Thiem slicing a backhand into the net and the German’s confidence grew as he won 10 of the next 16 points. While Thiem’s forehand began to break down at 4-5, his backhand held up and the Austrian saved two set points on serve. Thiem opened up a 3/0 lead in the tie-break and continued to dig in en route to finishing the 82-minute set with a backhand crosscourt winner.

“I felt nerves, having put in so much energy," said Thiem. "My stomach was rebelling a bit. I have it a little, when it’s close and a tough match. It’s not nice to play return games, when he’s hitting so many first serves. I didn’t have a look, really, in the fourth set… Thank goodness there is a tie-break in tennis, otherwise we’d still be playing."

There were no chances en route to a tie-break in the fourth set. But when Zverev hit a double fault at 0/1, Thiem gained the advantage and fully broke clear when he took a 5/3 lead. Thiem completed his seventh win in nine meetings against Zverev with his 43rd winner – a forehand volley winner.

Thiem

If Thiem goes on to beat Djokovic in Sunday’s final he will become the 150th different man in history to win a major championship title.

"[Alexander] had a horrible ATP Cup [going 0-3], but he worked hard for a week and he deserves it," said Thiem. "He is a great player, we’ve known that for a long time. It’s been a breakthrough week. I think both of us deserved to win today, maybe it’s experience or something else… I’m sure it won’t be long until he gets through to his first Grand Slam final."

Zverev, who has donated AU $50,000 towards Australia’s bushfire relief efforts — AU $10,000 for every match win in Melbourne — had been attempting to become the third German man to reach the Australian Open final, after Boris Becker (1991, 1996) and Rainer Schuettler (2003).

“It was a great tournament [and a] great match today,” said Zverev. I came to this tournament differently. I didn't play my best. I went step-by-step, match-by-match. Usually I didn't do that in Grand Slams. Maybe I can take that away, but right now I'm still a little bit disappointed about the match.

“I had a lot of chances. I had 14 break points. That should be plenty. In the important moments, I didn't play my best. He did. That's where the match kind of went his way. We've had a lot of tight moments, four tight sets. In the third set I had set points. In the fourth set, I had chances. [I’ve] just got to execute better next time. But credit to him, he's playing unbelievable tennis right now.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/thiem-z ... -semifinal

[Del Fed]

[DUN I LOVE]

Pierwszy Austriak w finale AO, trzeci rok z rzędu z finałem WS, jedziesz.

[Damian]

Austriak staje się najmłodszym finalistą AO od czasu Murray'a (2013 r.).


@TennisMyLife68

[Kamileki]

[Del Fed]

Thiem: ‘We Always Have To Beat All These Unbelievable Legends’

Spoiler:

Dominic Thiem has already enjoyed two shots at Grand Slam glory, at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019. Now, after battling past 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev in four sets on Friday evening, the Austrian superstar will get his chance at the Australian Open trophy.

But in his way stands as difficult of an obstacle as you’ll find in tennis: seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in Melbourne.

“We are playing in tough times, [we] young players. We always have to beat all these unbelievable legends. But I think it's a complete different situation,” Thiem said. “Rafa won Paris 12 times, Nole here seven times. That's [an] unbelievable achievement. But I try to take my experience that I made in the past two major finals and try to improve myself even more. I think I did that from '18 to '19 in Paris, and I tried to improve even more now.

“In this one I have the feeling that I have great experience now. I'm feeling that I can really keep up my level for all the two weeks, which was not the case maybe in my first Roland Garros final. So that's what I'm taking, [and I’m going to] try to be in the zone straightaway on Sunday night.”
At last year’s Australian Open, Thiem was upset in the second round. At the time, he was known for his success on clay. But two months later at Indian Wells, Thiem broke through for his first ATP Masters 1000 title — perhaps surprisingly, on hard courts — and from there, he has become a force on hard, too. Three of his five titles in 2019 came on the surface (Indian Wells, Vienna, Beijing), and he finished the year by reaching the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals, which is also on hard.

“Indian Wells, that victory gave me so much relief and so much confidence because finally got my first Masters 1000 title on hard court,” Thiem said. “Then I think last fall in Asia, then in the indoor season, I made this huge step forward. I really developed my game I think in the right direction. I got more aggressive on hard courts, started to serve smarter and to return better. That also gave me a lot of confidence for this new year and for Australia because I told myself, ‘If I can be in the finals in London, the [Nitto] ATP Finals, why not as well in a hard-court Slam?’ Since then I know that I'm also playing very well on the faster surfaces.”

Djokovic is on a roll, winning 16 consecutive sets dating back to the fourth set of his first-round win against German Jan-Lennard Struff. Thiem, however, has had to battle this fortnight, going five sets in the second round against Alex Bolt, four hours and 10 minutes against top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals and three hours and 42 minutes against Zverev in the last four.

“With all the adrenaline and everything, it's going to be fine. I played two super-intense matches against Rafa and now against Sascha. So of course I'm going to feel it, especially tomorrow,” Thiem said. “But I’m going to have great treatment, an easy hit tomorrow, and then of course try everything to be 100 per cent on Sunday night.”
Thiem showed some of his best form to defeat Nadal on Wednesday, winning three tie-breaks under pressure against the Spanish legend. And he did not suffer a letdown against Zverev, rallying after dropping the first set and going after his shots when it mattered most.

“I had big issues with that two, three years ago, when I was beating a big guy. Almost all the time I lost my next match. But with experience and with more times when you are facing that situation, it got better,” Thiem said. “Today in the beginning, I had some troubles. I was not in the zone straightaway in the match like against Rafa. It took a while, maybe 20, 30 minutes. But I think that's normal. You just have to fight through and stay full in the match.”
Thiem lost his first five ATP Head2Head meetings against Djokovic, winning just one set in those matches. But he has won four of their five clashes since, including a victory at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals.

“I won more of the last encounters than he did. But I think it doesn't count so much. It's absolutely his comfort zone here. He always plays his best tennis in Australia since many, many years. So I'm expecting that as well in the final,” Thiem said. “All I can do is my best again, playing great tennis again, and of course take a look at the past matches we had as well in Paris and also London, try to repeat the good stuff that I did there.”

Thiem knows that history is on Djokovic’s side in Melbourne, where the Serbian has never lost from the semi-finals on. But the World No. 5 carries good form and a dangerous game into the championship match.

“For sure he's the favourite. I mean, he’s won seven titles here, never lost a final, going for his eighth one,” Thiem said. “I'm feeling good on the court. I'm playing great tennis. So [I’ll] try to be at my absolute best on Sunday.”

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